Taking The Bait

Last Update: March 23, 2012

 One of the things that I do well with is reading every headline that appears on my home page and chasing after one article after the other. That headline is a hook and I'm one big fat cat fish who just can't resist. I swish the title around in my head like a wine taster, a connoisseur who recognizes the subtle nuances of excellent grape captured in the heady brew I am sampling. Overcome, I find I'm just a lush after all and drown myself in the article attached to it. Then it's back to the table to feel the strength and quality of another headline attached to yet another article.

That's what I want. That's what everyone who struggles with article writing wants. A title so powerful it demands attention and drives the reader to action. Drives them to the article. That article is magic. It is so compelling and casts a spell so complete that clicking on a product link is all they want to do. I want to write like that. Others do. What's my deal?

I beat my articles until they can barely limp onto the word document and line their creepy nouns, adjectives and verbs into recognizable alphabet soup. Somehow I strip the heart and soul out of every one my articles. Clean. Well dressed. No errors and sterile as a fresh dressed church manikin.

So it's back to studying how everyone else so naturally infuses life into their headline; trying to figure out how they can capture me when I can see the holes in the articles they wrote. Simple fact is they are alive. The pitiable written word is still alive ten million written volumes later and in the marketing world that translates into readers interested enough click on a link.

That's what I want... I want my articles to get up and walk. I want them to shake someone awake and take them out for a drink. Get in the car reader, you're not doing anything anyway. We're on the road to success and if you don't trust my driving, then that's just to bad because I'm not killing another article with a politically correct ending. 

 

 


 

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DABK Premium
Here are some good titles, they'll... do something for you:
Alton Attorney Accidentally Sues Himself

Tigger Woods Plays With Own Balls, Nike Says
County to Pay $250,000 to Advertise Lack of Funds

Army Vehicle Disappears (An Australian Army vehicle worth $74k has gone missing after being painted with camouflage.
Meeting an Open Meetings Is Closed
Doe to do NEPA's EIS on BNFL's AMWTP at INEEL after SRA Protest (catchy little bugger, ain't?)
Caskets Found After Workers Demolish Mauseleum
Federal Agents Raid Gun Shop, Find Weapons
Statistics Show Teen Pregnancy Drops Off Significantly After Age 25

You can see the rest here:

http://www.oddee.com/item_96156.aspx
burntout Premium
Those are eye catching and thought provoking alright. Thanks for the link. Pretty fun stuff.
jatdebeaune Premium
If anyone can do it, it's you, Art. I love the way you express yourself. You don't beat down your blogs here at WA. They are full of life. Here's a little website where you can test your headlines: http://www.aminstitute.com/headline/index.html It's a great tool to evaluate the emotional marketing value of your headline.
burntout Premium
Thanks for the kind words and link Joan. I'll give it a whirl.
Labman_1 Premium
Ok, so write like that. I'd buy from you. Here I thought you were gonna talk about fishin'. Hmmm, I guess you did.
burntout Premium
What's your billing address Craig? I'm happy to oblige. :)
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